In Which Barack Obama Attempts Style Diplomacy

In the increasingly interconnected and global world (we promise what follows is not a Tom Friedman column), it's always nice to see an American president, one who wears American-made suits, abroad, immediately acquainting himself with traditional dress while abroad. Here, along with the president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, our president looks completely comfortable with himself, even in spite of the vaguely tribal garb. It's completely on trend, believe it or not. But, also, in a year when Michelle Obama has been criticized — perhaps unfairly — for not wearing designs created in the countries from whence dignitaries came, it's nice to see our commander-in-chief completely go for it in Indonesia. Sure, it'd probably be rude to refuse the clothes. Still, there's nothing about his mood that suggests he was forced into that shirt. And, really, it's just nice for him to show a bit of lightness in such serious times. Humanizing, even.